BSkyB to Broadcast Interactive Formula One

Pay television operator BSkyB says it has struck a deal with Formula One Management to broadcast live interactive coverage of the Grand Prix motor racing series on its satellite service.

BSkyB said on Friday it would offer exclusive interactive coverage across all three days of each Grand Prix weekend in the 2002 and 2003 seasons. The new F1 motor race season begins in Australia on the first weekend of March.

BSkyB did not give financial details of the deal but said viewers would see live, uninterrupted coverage on race days, with a range of views, statistics and behind-the-scenes coverage. The 5.5 million homes in the UK and Ireland with Sky digital will be offered the interactive F1 service on a pay-per-view basis, with a one-off fee for each three-day Grand Prix weekend.

"We are so pleased to be working with Sky and excited that F1 can now offer British viewers such radically different coverage," said Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone. "It has taken time, with F1 investing heavily in the best broadcast technology so we can genuinely take fans closer.

"Now, alongside traditional race broadcasts, we can offer truly interactive coverage of Grand Prix weekends. It's going to be exceptional."

BSkyB viewers can currently only watch Formula One races on terrestrial channel ITV1, which is available on BSkyB. ITV1 has exclusive terrestrial rights in Britain to Formula One races. BSkyB is 36 percent owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp.

"Formula One followers are amongst the most technically aware of all sports fans, and they will be excited by this new service - the depth of the information now available, and the choice of how to watch every race," said Vic Wakeling, Managing Director of Sky Sports

"This is the future, and it is available now. The frustration of having to sit passively in front of a television set - wanting to know more, wanting to see something different - will be a dark and distant memory."